[Later form of SPELE v.1 Cf. SPELL sb.3]
1. trans. To take the place of (a person) at some work or labor; to relieve (another) by taking a turn at work. Now U.S.
1595. Raleigh, Discov. Guiana (1596), 44. Euery gentleman and others taking their turns to row, and to spell one the other at the howers end.
1823. T. Roughley, Jamaica Planter’s Guide, 340. Sometimes there are two ostensible boilers to spell and relieve one another. Ibid. When he is obliged to be spelled, for the purpose of natural rest [etc.].
1857. Goodrich, Recoll., I. 62. I was sometimes permitted … to spell my father in this favorite employment [sc. shelling corn].
1873. Lowell, Lett. (1894), II. 91. He tells me that the Finns recite their poems six or seven hours on the stretch, spelling one another, as we say in New England.
b. To relieve by an interval of rest; to rest (esp. a horse). Chiefly Austr.
1846. Stokes, Disc. Australia, II. i. 42. In order to spell the oars, we landed at a point on the east side.
1867. H. Bushnell, Mor. Uses Dark Th., 252. Nature is put under a heavy pressure…; spelled by no relaxations, freshened by no play of society.
1885. Mrs. C. Praed, Head Station, xli. III. 202. They are camping at Araluen and spelling the horses.
2. Naut. To take a turn or turns of work at (the pump, etc.).
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), s.v., Thus we say, spell the pump, spell the lead, &c.
1782[?]. Loss of H.M.S. Centaur, 3. The Captain was obliged to turn all hands up to spell the pump.
3. intr. a. To replace one set of workers by another; to take turns.
1861. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. (ed. 2), III. 247. We go on in that way throughout the day, spelling at every 28 tons.
b. Austr. To take an interval of rest.
1880. Victoria in 1880, 114 (Morris). He ‘spelled’ upon the ground.
1890. Melbourne Argus, 13 June, 6/1. Working a steady stroke through the day, smoking and spelling as they willed.
1893. J. A. Barry, S. Brown’s Bunyip, 2. It was Sunday, and the caravan was spelling for the day.
